INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION AND

COUNSELLING

BY N.W. NYIRENDA
 BROAD OBJECTIVE

• By the end of the lesson, students should be

equipped with knowledge, skills and attitudes
in IPCC to effectively communicate with
mothers during the antepartum, intrapartum
and post partum period.
 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
• Define terms used in IPCC
• Identify health activities that require IPCC
• Explain basic Counseling principles
• Explain IPCC skills and techniques
 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
• Explain the purpose of counseling
• Explain counseling process utilizing GATHER
• Describe the qualities of a good counselor
• Identify factors that facilitate counseling
• Identify factors that interfere with counseling
• Interpersonal communication
-It is a face to face verbal and non-verbal
exchange of information or feelings between
two people involving motivation, education
and counseling.
• counseling
-A person to person interaction in which the
counselor provides adequate information to
enable the client make an informed choice
about the course of action that is best for him
or her
• interpersonal communication and counseling
-Face to face verbal or non-verbal exchange of
information or feelings between individuals or
in groups, to enable the client or group to
make an informed choice about the course of
action that is best for him/her /them.
• motivation
-A process of encouraging clients to adopt some
kind of behaviour that you want them to do
e.g. exclusive breast feeding after delivery.
 
 
• education
-A process of facilitating learning to enable an
individual or groups of people make rational
decisions and change behaviour over a long
term.
• information
-It is creating awareness on a particular issue.
 
 2. health activities that require IPCC  

• History taking
• Examination
• Motivation
• Counselling e.g. during discharge
 3. basic counseling principles

• For counseling to be effective, observe the

following principles.
• The right to make an informed choice
• The process should be confidential.
• Process must be truthful
• Freedom of expression
• Genuine communication without emotional
involvement.
• Auditory and visual privacy
• Receptive atmosphere.
• Recognize limitations and refer when
necessary.
 
 IPCC SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES

i. Non-verbal communication skills.

This involves body language. ROLES is used to facilitate
communication
• Relax
• Open and approachable
• Lean towards client
• Eye contact
• Sit squarely and smile
 
ii. Verbal skills
• CLEAR is used to facilitate communication.
• Clarify
• Listen actively
• Encourage
• Acknowledge
• Repeat and reflect
Examples of verbal and non-verbal
communication modalities
• Hand shaking
• Speaking
• Facial expressions (frowning, smiling)
• Eye contact
• Kicking
• Shouting etc.
iii. Counseling Techniques
• Praise and encouragement
• Questioning
• Probing
• Observations
• Paraphrasing
• Summarizing
• Active listening
 5.PURPOSE OF COUNSELLING

• To provide accurate information to

clients/patients to enable them make informed
decision with the emphasis of the following
groups:
• Women during antepartum, intrapartum and
postpartum.
• Adolescents
• Individual men, women and couples
• Post abortal women
• Regardless of age
• Women with medical or obstetric conditions
likely to worsen with pregnancy and child
birth.
 6. COUNSELLING PROCESS

• Usually uses GATHER thus:

• Greet the client and ask how you can help
• Ask about herself and the family
• Tell what is going to happen during her visit
 
• Help her to be comfortable to understand her
situation and to make
decision
• Explain any pre and post procedure care and
instructions including use
and effects of drugs
• Return visit, referral and follow up
 7. qualities of a good counsellor

• A good counselor is one who is

• Honest
• Understanding and empathetic
• Non-judgemental flexible
• Flexible
• Sensitive to clients needs and concerns
• Genuine
• Active listener
• Accepting and respectful
8. factors that facilitate counseling
• Adequate auditory and visual privacy and
confidentiality
• Showing concern/care and empathy for client
• Preparedness and competency of counselor to
generate trust in the service
• Flexibility e.g. referral if the counselor can not
sufficiently help the client
• Accuracy of information
• Respect and understanding
• Use of visual aids to enhance understanding.
 9. factors that interfere with counseling
• Language barriers
• Age differences
• Educational background
• Values and beliefs e.g. personal, religious and
cultural
• Lack of privacy
• Lack of confidentiality
• Physical defects
 
THANK YOU